Month: August 2024

President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Kapil Sibal on Friday expressed concern on the number of judges in the country saying that the judge population ratio is abysmally low in India.

Sibal was addressing the inaugural event of the 2-day National Conference of District Judiciary, at Bharat Mandapam where Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the National Conference of District Judiciary.

On the occasion, PM Modi unveiled the stamp and coin commemorating 75 years of the establishment of the Supreme Court of India.

In his address, Sibal said, “…The judge population ratio is abysmally low in India. The roster at the level of district and sessions level is overburdened…”

Kapil Sibal emphasised that trial courts, district and session courts need to be empowered to deliver justice.

“…Our trial court, district and sessions court need to be empowered to deliver justice without fear or fervour…They are not subordinate as they deliver justice. the judiciary at that level should be instilled with the confidence that their judgments will not be held against them and that they represent the spinal cord of the justice delivery system…,” he said in his address.

Sibal added, “In my career, I have seldom seen bail granted at that level. This is not just my experience but even CJI has said this because higher courts are burdened. After all, bail at the lower court is an exception…Liberty is the foundational substratum of a thriving democracy and any attempt to throttle it impacts the quality of our democracy…”

The Supreme Court is organising a two-day national conference of the district Judiciary beginning August 31 and September 1.

The two-day Conference, organised by the Supreme Court of India, will host five working sessions that will deliberate and discuss on the issues related to district judiciary such as infrastructure and human resources, inclusive courtrooms for all, judicial security and judicial wellness, case management and judicial training.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud were also present at the event. (ANI)

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The Bangladesh interim government’s foreign affairs advisor Mohammed Touhid Hossain, has said that as cases mount against Sheikh Hasina, his country could consider seeking the extradition of the former premier but that would create an “embarrassing situation for the Indian government.”

In an exclusive interview to Reuters TV in Dhaka, Hossain said that “since there are so many cases” against Hasina in Bangladesh, the country’s home and law ministries could make the request to extradite her.

“Her staying in Delhi, in India, the question comes that…there are so many cases (against Hasina) that could be… again some speculating, I am not a person right to answer this, if there is a request from there (Ministry of Home and Ministry of Law) we have to ask for her, you know, return to Bangladesh. If there is a demand from there, that creates an embarrassing situation for the Indian government. So I think the Indian government knows this and I am sure they will take care of it”, Hossain told Reuters TV.

Sheikh Hasina had arrived in India on August 5, following an uprising led by students against her that turned violent. As per the Dhaka Tribune, a complaint has been lodged against Hasina and 24 others in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands for allegedly violating human rights.

The Bangladeshi media outlet said that there are multiple cases filed against Hasina.

Further, Hossein, the foreign affairs advisor in Bangladesh’s interim government led by Mohammad Yunus stated that the Nobel Laureate is “very unhappy” about the way the statements are coming from India, from the former Prime Minister and he had conveyed this to the Indian envoy in a meeting.

“Professor Yunus is very unhappy about the way the statements are coming from India, from the former Prime Minister. He is quite unhappy about this and I have conveyed this to the High Commissioner (of India),” Hossain said in the interview to Reuters TV.

“I have also told the press that we have conveyed this because we believe in transparent relations. So whatever actually is there, unless there are some, there are some secret points could be there. Otherwise, we want to make things public. And we have – I have just told him about the displeasure of the chief adviser, and let us hope that they take care of it,” he told Reuters TV in an interview.

Regarding the possibility of elections in the violence-hit country, Hossein said there will be more clarity on the timeline by September.

“All my colleagues in the council of advisors, they are extremely busy with bringing back normalcy”, he said adding, “I think from September, things will, normalcy and normal way of functioning will start.”

On the issue of giving refuge to Rohingyas, Hossain underscored that Bangladesh has “done more than its share” and is “not in a position to allow any more Rohingyas to enter”.

He said that other countries, including India should “take charge on that.”

“We are not in a position to allow any more Rohingyas to enter. It’s a humanitarian issue that involves the entire world, not only Bangladesh. We have done more than our share, and the world should take charge of that,” Hossein said.

Other countries “should put pressure through appropriate countries on the Arakan Army, who is the main actor in Rakhine state now to ensure that this does not happen, because we are not in a position,” Hossain told Reuters TV.

“Well, India is a very large country, if they want to take some, it’s fine. We have taken a million, let them take 200,000, I don’t mind. But the goal is their repatriation to their country,” Hossain said.

As per a report in the Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh’s interim government has cancelled the passports of Sheikh Hasina, her advisers, former cabinet members, and all members of the 12th national parliament.

The authorities have also revoked diplomatic passports for their spouses and children have also been revoked with immediate effect, the Bangladesh publication reported.

Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, tendering her resignation from her post on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. Hasina, who fled Bangladesh for India in a military aircraft on August 5, is currently staying in India.

The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.

On August 8, Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. 17 members of Bangladesh’s interim government took their oaths at a ceremony in Dhaka. (ANI)

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Ahead of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), BJP Samba District President Kashmira Singh has resigned from all posts and the party’s membership over issues related to ticket distribution.

Singh announced his resignation during a press conference in Samba on Friday.

In the press conference, he also made several allegations against the party’s state president, Ravinder Raina, and said that he wants to include Sheikh Abdullah’s ideology in BJP, which old workers like us cannot tolerate.

He said that he has nurtured the party with dedication since the time when it had no MLA or MP and struggled to attract members.

“We have worked selflessly for the party for 40 to 42 years. Today, after 30 years, the Samba Assembly constituency has been opened for the general category, and they have given the mandate to Surjit Singh Salathia, who has come from the National Conference. We do not accept this decision,” he said.

Expressing his displeasure over the distribution of party tickets, Singh added, “Today, I am saddened because we were not even considered once when distributing the tickets. The party workers do the work, and then tickets are given to outsider candidates. Those who opposed our thoughts are becoming our candidates today. I cannot accept this, so I am resigning from the BJP.”

He further said that if the party had seen any shortcomings in him, they should have given the ticket to a local worker, which would not have caused any upset. He highlighted that in Samba, from 1996 until now, tickets have consistently been given to outsiders.

“In 1996, Babu Parmanand was fielded; in 2008, Satwant Kaur was defeated in the assembly elections; in 2014, Dr. Davinder Kumar Manyal was given a ticket after resigning from his job in the health department. Now, in 2024, Surjit Singh Salathia, who left the National Conference party, has been given a ticket. How long will this continue? That is why we have resigned from this party today,” he lamented.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls are being held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.

National Conference (NC) will contest 51 of 90 seats and Congress 32 according to the seat-sharing pact reached by the two parties for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The two parties will also have a contest on five seats. The two parties have left one seat each for CPI(M) and Panthers Party.

There are a total number of 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 7 seats are reserved for SCs and 9 seats are reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors. These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)

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Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat on Saturday reached the farmers’ protest site at Shambhu border, extending her support to farmers and saying she, as a “daughter,” stands with them and prays to God so that farmers get their rights and justice.

Phogat also refused to be drawn into speculation about her entering the political arena and called herself an athlete and belong to the whole nation and had “nothing to do with upcoming state assembly polls.”

“I am an athlete; I belong to the entire country. I have nothing to do with which state is going to the polls. All I know is that my country is suffering, farmers are in trouble. Their issues should be resolved and it should be the first priority of the Government to resolve this,” she said.

When reporters asked if she would contest the Haryana elections, if Congress offers her ticket, wrestler Vinesh Phogat said, “I will not speak on this, I will not talk about politics. I have come to my family. If you talk about this, you would waste their struggle and fight. The focus is not on me today. The focus should be on the farmers, I request this.”

Addressing farmers, Vinesh Phogat said, “Your agitation completes 200 days today. I pray to God that you get what you have come here for – your right, for justice…Your daughter stands with you. I also urge the Government. We too are citizens of this country, if we raise our voices it is not political every time…You should hear them…What they are demanding is not unlawful…”

Phogat was also felicitated by farmer leaders as she arrived at the Shambhu Border. The farmer agitation at the border has completed 200 days.

It has been a topsy-turvy month for Vinesh after she reached the final of the women’s 50kg event but still returned to India empty-handed. On August 7, Sarah Ann Hildebrandt of the United States stood between Vinesh and the gold medal.

However, things went downhill after she was disqualified before the final after breaching the 50kg weight limit. A day after her heartbreaking disqualification, Vinesh announced her decision to retire from wrestling. She also made a plea to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to award her a joint silver medal.

The CAS deferred the verdict a couple of times and eventually dismissed the application filed by Vinesh for a silver medal in the women’s 50kg event at the Paris Olympics. (ANI)

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir for election campaigning on September 4. The leader of Opposition is expected to visit the Dooru Assembly constituency, from where the Congress has fielded Ghulam Ahmed Mir.

Rahul Gandhi is likely to address a public meeting on September 4, sources said.

Congress announced the first list of nine candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in a document signed by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal on August 27.

Prominent leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir will contest from Dooru and Vikar Rasool Wani from Banihal. While Peerzada Mohd Syed will contest for the important Anantnag constituency, Sheikh Riaz seeks the Doda seat.

The party has fielded Surinder Singh Channi from the Tral seat, Amanullah Mantoo from Devsar, Shaikh Zafarullah from Inderwal, Nadeem Sharief from Bhadarwah, and Pradeep Kumar Bhagat from Doda West.

Samajwadi Party (SP) has also extended their support to the Congress and National Conference alliance in the J-K polls.

SP president Jia Lal Verma on Wednesday informed that the party will contest the upcoming J-K Assembly polls and is likely to file their nominations in the second or third phase.

Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls are being held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.

National Conference (NC) will contest 51 of 90 seats and Congress 32 according to the seat-sharing pact reached by the two parties for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The two parties will also have a contest on five seats. The two parties have left one seat each for CPI(M) and Panthers Party.

There are a total number of 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 7 seats are reserved for SCs and 9 seats are reserved for STs.

According to the Election Commission of India, Jammu and Kashmir has 88.06 lakh eligible electors. These are the first assembly elections to be held in Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. (ANI)

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National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah on Friday claimed that the Public Safety Act was misused and said that the youths were harassed without any reason.

“The youth has been harassed without any reason. Different laws were used against them. After the local jails were full, they kept the youth in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir… PSA (Public Safety Act) has been misused rashly… We have promised in our manifesto that we will remove the PSA if the National Conference comes to power so that it cannot be misused again” said Abdullah.

Earlier, he defended his decision to contest the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, stating that the goal is to present a united front against the BJP and minimise their seats.

Speaking to journalists, Omar also said that the alliance was definitely needed in Jammu, including in Pir Panchal, and Chenab. “Our efforts are meant to have a united front against the BJP and we make sure that they win as few seats as possible”, he said.

Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 4.

Jammu and Kashmir is expected to witness multi-cornered contests on most seats. It is the first assembly poll since the abrogation of Article 370.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Thursday issued the notification for the filing of nomination papers by the candidates for the second phase of assembly elections in J-K. As many as 26 assembly constituencies will go to polls in the second phase of elections.

As per the notification, the last date for filing the nomination will be September 5, while scrutiny will be done on September 6. The last date for the withdrawal of candidatures is September 9.

In the 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP won 28 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference won 15, and the Congress won 12.

The PDP and BJP formed a coalition government led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. However, in 2018, the BJP pulled back from the alliance after Mehbooba Mufti took over following the demise of Mufti Mohammad.

In the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, the BJP won both the seats in Jammu, again demonstrating its strong support in the region. The National Conference also won two seats. The votes will be counted on October 4. (ANI)

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Former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and senior leader Champai Soren joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at an event in Ranchi on Friday.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Jharkhand BJP President Babulal Marandi among other state BJP leaders were present at the event.

On joining the BJP, the former Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) veteran expressed his faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Amit Shah.

“I have faith in the PM of the country and Amit Shah. I am now with the largest party in the world. Earlier I was in a regional party. Jai Shree Ram,” Soren said while addressing the event.

The development comes as the state is set to witness an election to the 81-member Legislative Assembly later this year as the current government’s tenure ends in 2024. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the dates.

In a later development, JMM MLA from Ghatshila, Ramdas Soren took oath as a state cabinet minister earlier today replacing Champai Soren in the state cabinet.

Soren resigned from all positions and the primary membership of JMM on August 28. He became the chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, shortly after Hemant Soren resigned as the CM before being arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering case. In less than two months, Soren had to step down to allow the return of Hemant Soren to the chair following the latter’s bail in the case.

On August 27, Champai Soren announced his decision to join the BJP owing it to the welfare of tribals in the state.

“On August 18 itself, I had posted about the politics that happened with me in the party that I made with my blood and sweat. I came out alone from JMM as my intention was not to break the party. Sometimes I thought I would leave politics, then I thought that I would form a new organisation or if I find a partner, I would join them for the betterment of Jharkhand. We have got a good partner in the form of BJP,” Soren said while speaking to ANI on Friday ahead of his joining.

We will fight for Jharkhand like before. I will work for the development of Jharkhand, to save the existence of tribals. We will develop Jharkhand,” he added. (ANI)

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After the Assam legislative assembly decided to end the practice of a two-hour Jumma break, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Taranga Gogoi dubbed it as “historic” and said that India is a secular country.

“As India is a secular country and if somebody takes a break for Namaz, Hindus can also take a break for our rituals. But the break was given to a particular community for many years. It is a historic decision,” Taranga Gogoi said while speaking to ANI on Friday.

“AIUDF and Congress MLAs should also thank the state government,” he added.

Assam Assembly earlier in the day ended the practice of a two-hour adjournment for Jumma Prayers, every Friday. This practice was introduced by Saadulah’s Muslim League government in colonial Assam.

Assam Legislative Assembly today officially amended the rule providing for a two-hour break Jumma break, historically observed to facilitate Muslim legislators to offer Friday prayers.

According to the previous rule, the sitting of the Assembly on Friday used to be adjourned at 11 am to facilitate Muslim members to go for namaaz, but, as per the new rule, the Assembly will conduct its proceedings without any adjournment for religious purposes.

As per the amended rule, the Assam assembly will commence its proceedings at 9.30 am every day, including Fridays. The order stated that the amendment was done to scrap the colonial practice which aimed at dividing the society on a religious basis.

In a post on X, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the decision was taken to prioritise the productivity of the assembly. Calling the decision as historic, CM Sarma expressed his gratitude towards the Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary for this decision.

“By doing away with the 2-hour Jumma break, @AssamAssembly has prioritised productivity and shed another vestige of colonial baggage. This practice was introduced by Muslim League’s Syed Saadulla in 1937. My gratitude to Biswajit Daimar Dangoriya and our legislators for this historical decision,” CM Sarma said. (ANI)

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